The AO Foundation and Johnson & Johnson MedTech Orthopaedics’ collaboration

A renewed Cooperation Agreement governs the partnership between the AO Foundation and the Johnson & Johnson MedTech Orthopaedics business (JJMT), defining the framework for the coming years. This agreement continues to support the AO’s mission to advance surgical education and innovation globally.

“This renewed agreement reflects our shared commitment to excellence in surgical education and innovation,” said AO President Mark D Markel. “It ensures the AO remains independent while continuing to collaborate with the Johnson & Johnson MedTech Orthopaedics business to deliver meaningful and powerful impact for surgeons and patients worldwide.”

AO CEO Claas Albers underscored the importance and impact of this longstanding partnership: “Our partnership with the Orthopaedics business of Johnson & Johnson MedTech has evolved over decades, and this renewal marks a new chapter. It expands our scope, strengthens our global reach, and supports the AO’s mission to shape the future of surgery through education, research, and collaboration.” 

The AO benefits from JJMT’s committed support for its hands-on training in the specialty areas of trauma, spine, craniomaxillofacial (CMF), sports medicine, and podiatric medicine. JJMT and the AO collaborate on product and technology innovations to advance patient care with the benefit of AO members’ surgical expertise for application of these solutions in clinical settings. JJMT remains the key industry partner of the AO Technical Commission and its Global Expert Committees, Expert Groups, and Task Forces.

A general grant from the JJMT Orthopaedics business provides support for the AO’s global offerings, while confirming the independence of the AO and its volunteers. 

JJMT continues to support surgeon education programs for our clinical specialties. Working together, the combined efforts of the AO and JJMT benefit patients and enhance patient care through this longstanding partnership, which has evolved over the decades. We look forward to many more years of working together and to seeing how our collaboration will mature in the years to come.